On 20th January 2018 I was privileged and happy to be a part of the bhoomi puja on the land for the Zonal Training Institute, NACIN, Hyderabad.

I took a review meeting of the officers of both Hyderabad and Vizag zones, where a detailed presentation on the work performed by them in areas of GST and Customs was made. Some innovative ideas which were highlighted and brought to my notice were (i) setting up of a Special Task Force with 1 AC and 1 Superintendent both at ACC and ICD to deal only with the IGST refunds. I found this method to be very effective and request you all to do the same, unless you have initiated your own method of monitoring refunds, (ii) Individual SMSs were sent to those who have filed for refund online but have not come forward with the documents manually. (iii) Chief Commissioner’s office has sent letters welcoming the new assessees within their jurisdiction. All zones may replicate this unless other methods are already in place. I thank the officers and staff of both Hyderabad and Vizag Zones for a detailed and well-prepared presentation.

I am happy to inform that we have launched the CRCL website. Now in addition to all the testing facilities of the revenue laboratories, old manuals, retest procedures, retest fees etc have been put in public domain. Another module is under development wherein all test reports will be uploaded on CRCL website so that the field formations can directly access them without waiting for the hard copies. A state of the art conference room with a seating capacity of 50 has come up in the CRCL complex by renovating an old dilapidated laboratory. My heartiest congratulations to Commissioner, Logistics (also holding charge as Director CRCL) and all the officers and staff of CRCL for this enormous effort. As part of the Swachhata Pakhwada, I along with all the Members of the Board planted saplings in the CRCL complex.

Several policy and rate related changes were recommended during the 25th meeting of the GST Council held in New Delhi on 18th January, 2018. The policy related changes will be effective from 23rd January, 2018 and the rate related changes, for both goods and services, will be effective from 25th January, 2018. It may be noted that the provisions pertaining to e-way bill shall be effective nationwide for inter-state movement of goods with effect from 1st February, 2018. All the states must also implement the e-way bill system for intra-state movement of goods with effect from a date not later than 01.06.2018. All Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners are requested to coordinate with the respective Commissioners of Commercial Tax for the same.

With utmost regret, I inform of the sad demise of Shri K.Sekar. Shri Sekar belonged to the 1984 batch and was last posted as Pr ADG, DG Service Tax, Chennai before superannuating in January 2016. We had a condolence meeting in the Board and a condolence message has been sent to his family. May God give strength to the family to bear this irreparable loss.

In my last week’s communication, I had conveyed the spectacular win in power lifting by Ms S. Nithya. Ms Nithya, who won a Bronze Medal, belongs to Hyderabad Zone and not Bangalore Zone as mentioned in my letter.

I wish you all a very happy Republic day and International Customs Day. My congratulations to all the awardees of the Presidential Award of Appreciation Certificates and the WCO certificate of Merit.